Skin Pathology and Tests

Question 1

lesion

Answer 1

an area of abnormal tissue anywhere on or in the body. It may be caused by disease or trauma.

Question 2

crust

Answer 2

collection of dried serum and cellular debris

Question 3

cyst

Answer 3

thick-walled, closed sac or pouch containing fluid or semisolid material

Question 4

erosion

Answer 4

wearing away or loss of epidermis

Question 5

fissure

Answer 5

groove or crack-like sore

Question 6

macule

Answer 6

flat lesion measuring less than 1 cm in diameter

Question 7

nodule

Answer 7

solid, round or oval elevated lesion 1 cm or more in diameter

Question 8

papule

Answer 8

small (less than 1 cm in diameter), solid elevation of the skin

Question 9

polyp

Answer 9

growth extending from the surface of mucous membrane

Question 10

pustule

Answer 10

papule containing pus

Question 11

ulcer

Answer 11

open sore on the skin or mucous membranes (deeper than an erosion)

Question 12

vesicle

Answer 12

small collection (papule) of clear fluid (serum); blister

Question 13

wheal

Answer 13

smooth, edematous (swollen) papule or plaque that is redder or paler than the surrounding skin

Question 14

alopecia

Answer 14

absence of hair from areas where it normally grows. baldness

Question 15

ecchymosis, ecchymoses

Answer 15

bluish-purplish mark (bruise) on the skin

Question 16

petechial, petechiae

Answer 16

small, pinpoint hemorrhage

Question 17

pruritus

Answer 17

itching

Question 18

urticarial (hives)

Answer 18

acute allergic reaction in which red, round wheals develop on the skin

Question 19

acne

Answer 19

chronic popular and pustular eruption of the skin with increased production of sebum

Question 20

burns

Answer 20

injury to tissues caused by heat contact

Question 21

first degree burns

Answer 21

superficial epidermal lesions, erythema, hyperesthesia, and no blisters

Question 22

second degree burns (partial-thickness burn injury)

Answer 22

epidermal and dermal lesions, erythema, blisters, and hyperesthesia

Question 23

third degree burns (full-thickness burn injury)

Answer 23

epidermis and dermis are destroyed (necrosis of skin), and subcutaneous layer is damaged, leaving charred, white tissue

Question 24

cellulitis

Answer 24

diffuse, acute infection of the skin marked by local heat, redness, pain, and swelling

Question 25

eczema

Answer 25

inflammatory skin disease with erythematous, papulovesicular lesions

Question 26

exanthematous viral diseases

Answer 26

rash (exanthema) of the skin due to a viral infection ie rubella, rubeola, and varicella

Question 27

gangrene

Answer 27

death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply

Question 28

impetigo

Answer 28

bacterial inflammatory skin disease characterized by vesicles, pustules, and crusted-over lesions

Question 29

psoriasis

Answer 29

chronic, recurrent dermatosis marked by itchy, scaly, red plaques covered by silvery gray scales

Question 30

scabies

Answer 30

contagious, parasitic infection of the skin with intense pruritus

Question 31

scleroderma

Answer 31

chronic progressive disease of the skin and internal organs with hardening and shrinking of connective tissue

Question 32

systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Answer 32

chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of collagen in skin, joints, and internal organs

Question 33

tinea

Answer 33

infection of the skin caused by a fungus

Question 34

vitiligo

Answer 34

loss of pigment (depigmentation) in areas of the skin (milk-white patches)

Question 35

callus

Answer 35

increased growth of cells in the keratin layer of the epidermis caused by pressure or friction

Question 36

keloid

Answer 36

hypertrophied, thickened scar developing after trauma or surgical incision

Question 37

keratosis

Answer 37

thickened and rough lesion of the epidermis; associated with aging or skin damage

Question 38

leukoplakia

Answer 38

white, thickened patches on mucous membrane tissue of the tongue or cheek

Question 39

nevus, nevi

Answer 39

pigmented lesion of the skin. moles

Question 40

verruca

Answer 40

epidermal growth (wart) caused by a virus

Question 41

basal cell carcinoma

Answer 41

malignant tumor of the basal cell layer of the epidermis. Most frequent type of skin cancer. sun exposed skin

Question 42

squamous cell carcinoma

Answer 42

malignant tumor of the squamous epithelial cells in the epidermis. can be in other places than the skin, wherever squamous epithelium is found (mouth, larynx, bladder, esophagus, lungs)

Question 43

malignant melanoma

Answer 43

cancerous growth composed of melanocytes

Question 44

Kaposi sarcoma

Answer 44

malignant, vascular, neoplastic growth characterized by cutaneous nodules. frequently on the lower extremities. one form of this is associated with AIDS

Question 45

bacterial analyses

Answer 45

samples of skin are examined for presence of microorganisms

Question 46

fungal tests

Answer 46

scrapings from skin lesions, hair specimens, or nail clippings are sent to a lab for culture and microscopic examination

Question 47

cryosurgery

Answer 47

use of subfreezing temperature via liquid nitrogen application to destroy tissue

Question 48

curettage

Answer 48

use of a sharp dermal curette to scrape away a skin lesion

Question 49

electrodesiccation

Answer 49

tissue is destroyed by burning with an electric spark

Question 50

Mohs micrographic surgery

Answer 50

thin layers of malignant tissue are removed, and each is examined under a microscope to check for adequate extent of the resection

Question 51

skin biopsy

Answer 51

suspected malignant skin lesions are removed and examined microscopically by a pathologist

Question 52

skin test

Answer 52

substances are injected intradermally or applied to the skin, and results are observed